2.14.13
Oil Spill
Judge to rule on Transocean's plea deal with Justice Department over Gulf
oil spill
By Associated Press,
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge was expected to decide Thursday whether to
approve Transocean Ltd.'s agreement with the Justice Department to plead
guilty to a misdemeanor charge and pay $400 million in criminal penalties
for its role in the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/judge-to-rule-on-transoceans-plea-deal-with-justice-department-over-gulf-oil-spill/2013/02/14/296f8938-767d-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html
Groups concerned RESTORE Act money will be diverted from coast
By Todd Masson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated February 13, 2013 at 5:31 PM
With the state less than two months away from the opening of its 2013
Legislative session, conservation groups are concerned a big pile of money
heading Louisiana's way for coastal restoration may get diverted to fill
budget shortfalls or be otherwise misused.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2013/02/groups_concerned_restore_act_m.html
BP feud with US government over Gulf oil spill heats up
Houston Chronicle
BP is preparing for battle with the U.S. government as it steps up its
efforts to defend itself against up to $21 billion in civil fines that it
could face in connection with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/02/13/bp-feud-with-us-government-over-gulf-oil-spill-heats-up/
State News
$16M Woolmarket wastewater treatment facility underused?
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - Did politicians rush to build a $16 million
wastewater treatment facility with federal funds received after Hurricane
Katrina? That's what some residents living on Shorecrest Road near the
Woolmarket plant say.
http://www.wlox.com/story/21190026/16m-woolmarket-wastewater-treatment-facility-underused
MDEQ awards $60K grant to Harrison County
The Associated Press
JACKSON, MISS. — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has
awarded Harrison County a solid waste assistance grant of $60,000 that will
be used for a household hazardous waste collection event scheduled for
April 20.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/14/4467952/mdeq-awards-60k-grant-to-harrison.html
County gets $8,800 waste tire grant
Chickasaw Journal
by Floyd Ingram | 6:05 PM | February 11, 2013
Getting rid of old tires is a problem in counties across Northeast
Mississippi and Chickasaw County has a program aimed at properly disposing
of waste tires.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded
Chickasaw County an $8,800 waste tire grant to continue the local waste
tire collection program for small quantity generators of waste tires.
http://chickasawjournal.com/2013/02/11/county-gets-8800-waste-tire-grant/
More dead baby dolphins in South Mississippi waters
Sun Herald
By MELISSA M. SCALLAN — mmscallan@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- Officials with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies are
seeing more dead baby dolphins, and they aren't sure why.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/13/4467594/more-dead-baby-dolphins-in-south.html
Amory aldermen updated on flood plain study
Monroe County Journal
by Emily Tubb | 3:55 am | February 13, 2013
AMORY – During the Amory Board of Aldermen's regular-called meeting Feb. 5,
board members were updated on the status of a new flood plain study.
"Years ago, FEMA came out with a map that put some properties in a flood
zone that shouldn't be there," said city clerk Lee Barnett.
The zoning did not take the Tennessee-Tombigbee levees into consideration.
After appeals by 28 U.S. senators, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
has agreed to cooperate with the county in hiring an engineer to make sure
the new flood map is accurate.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2013/02/13/amory-aldermen-updated-on-flood-plain-study/
Friends of Boley gearing up for cleanup
By Jeremy Pittari
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — Members of the Friends of Boley are preparing for a cleanup of
Hobolochitto Creek and have made nominations for board member positions.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1633481880/Friends-of-Boley-gearing-up-for-cleanup
Fuel of the future: Could compressed natural gas be the next big fuel
source
by Adam Armour | 6:00 am | February 14, 2013 | Itawamba County Times
Although nearly non-existent in Mississippi, the number of municipalities
and businesses converting their fleets of vehicles to run on compressed
natural gas — CNG — is growing nationwide. It's a move that has the
potential to save thousands of dollars annually, although the price to
convert is high.
http://itawambatimes.com/2013/02/14/fuel-of-the-future-could-compressed-natural-gas-be-the-next-big-fuel-source/
Press Releases
Two Mississippi Counties Declared Federal Disaster Areas
JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant announced that FEMA declared Forrest and Lamar
counties disaster areas this afternoon due to severe storms and tornadoes
which moved through those counties Feb. 10.
"Tuesday I requested an Expedited Disaster Declaration from the White House
in order to speed recovery to those hit hardest by these tornadoes," Gov.
Bryant said. "I appreciate their quick response which will ensure we are
able to provide critical resources as these residents and communities begin
the difficult process of recovery."
Approved in this disaster declaration are:
· Individual Assistance- Grants to individuals and households.
· Public Assistance:
Ø Category A- Debris removal.
Ø Category B- Emergency Protective Measures.
· Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, this program provides grants for
actions that reduce the risk to life and property from natural
hazards.
Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams made up of MEMA, FEMA, U.S. Small
Business Administration and local officials are surveying additional
damages in other counties to be considered for additional federal disaster
assistance.
Anyone with damages in these counties may apply by going to
www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The speech
or hearing impaired may call (TTY) 1-800-462-7585.
###
EPA Invites Communities to Apply for Smart Growth Assistance
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is
inviting applications from communities interested in exploring barriers to
smart growth and testing innovative strategies that can create healthier,
more sustainable places to live, work, and play.
EPA's Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) program provides
technical assistance to help communities grow in ways that improve the
local economy, the environment, and people's health. The program aims to
help applicants develop solutions to local challenges, such as managing
stormwater, increasing transit-oriented development, and adapting to
climate change, and to share those solutions with other communities.
EPA will be accepting applications from tribal, local, regional, and state
governments and nonprofit organizations that have partnered with a
governmental entity for their request for assistance. Applications will be
accepted until March 1, 2013. EPA will provide assistance to three to four
communities selected from this round of applications.
EPA is seeking applications in the following four categories:
1. Community Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change – Projects should
aim to develop planning principles and building design guidelines that
ensure future development provides communities with better protection
against storms, floods, and other natural disasters.
2. Redevelopment for Job Creation – Projects should aim to support growing
industries that provide quality jobs for existing residents using land use
policies that direct development to existing neighborhoods, are
pedestrian-friendly, allow for transit connections, and are close to
businesses and public services.
3. Manufactured and Modular Homes in Sustainable Neighborhood Design –
Projects should help communities that are using manufactured and modular
homes to address sudden population and economic growth. These communities
should provide a mix of uses and maximize existing streets and other
infrastructure investments, community gathering spaces, and water and
energy efficiency.
4. Medical and Social Service Facilities Siting – Projects should aim to
explore planning for high-quality community service facilities, including
health care centers and social services centers, in ways that support
neighborhood economic development and healthy communities.
Since 2005, the SGIA program has helped an array of communities from across
the country on issues such as stormwater management, code revision,
transit-oriented development, affordable housing, infill development,
corridor planning, green building, and climate change. In 2009, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) became involved with the SGIA program through the
Partnership for Sustainable Communities. This interagency collaboration
coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services
to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more
efficiently. In many cases, HUD and DOT serve on the SGIA technical
assistance teams, and help identify how SGIA projects can complement and
build on past and future federal investments.
More information on the SGIA program and applications:
http://epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm
More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities:
http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov
